Sunday, 18 January 2015

FOOTBALL PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE

ONE of the saddest episodes in the history
of Crystal Palace Football Club is recalled in this absorbing publication.

Originally from Prudhoe in Northumberland,
Billy Callender was a popular goalkeeper who made more than 200 appearances for
the club between 1926 and 1932.

He fell in love with Ella Leslie, a
Thornton Heath girl, and the couple became engaged - but the marriage was
called off after she was struck down by the crippling disease, polio.

Callender cared for her during her illness,
pushing her around the park in a wheelchair and was heartbroken when she died.

He was never able to come to terms with his
grief and, according to his landlady, suffered a breakdown.

A few weeks later, he signed on for the new
season at SelhurstPark but never left the ground.

The following day, he was found in tragic
circumstances in the old stand. His pockets contained letters and a photograph
of his sweetheart.

In The Sad Story of Billy Callender, tribute
is paid to the kindness and devotion
shown by the goalkeeper, especially in Ella’s last days when she was bedridden.

The text also traces Callender’s impressive playing career (he was awarded a testimonial for long service to Palace) and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

******

THE
spotlight falls on Dougie Freedman in this publication which looks back on the
ups and down of his career as a player.

It
started with apprenticeship at Queens Park Rangers, where he never played for
the first team, and ended at Southend United.

In
between, there were also spells where he enjoyed varying degrees of
success at CrystalPalace, Wolves, NottinghamForest and Leeds.

Recalled
are not just the highlights, but also the lowlights - including his
occasional run-ins with managers such as Gerry Francis, Mark McGhee and
Ron Atkinson.

Freedman
seldom played in the Premier League, but there was one match of
which he will not have happy memories - as a Forest player in a record 8-1 home drubbing
against a Manchester United side which was on its way to an historic
Treble.

Afterwards,
Atkinson angered the Forest faithful with his jocular description of the match as
"a nine-goal thriller"!

The publication
also recalls the striker's childhood in a deprived part
of Glasgow and the strong influence of his family
as he was growing up.

One
of the biggest disappointments for Freedman - who subsequently managed
Palace, then Bolton - was that he was so
seldom given the opportunity to play for Scotland.

But,
when he was eventually selected, he did not let his side down, scoring one of
the goals in a 2-1 win against Latvia in a World Cup qualifier.

***

SCOTTISH-born
striker Matt Tees scored more than 200 goals in the ‘Sixties and
‘Seventies.

In
this fascinating retrospective, he offers fascinating insights on his time as a
player with Airdrie, GrimsbyTown, Charlton Athletic, Luton and Boston United.

He
has fascinating tales to tell about the people he has met - including his
sometimes tricky relationship with manager Lawrie McMenemy, one of his managers
at Grimsby, and an offbeat bath-time encounter
with the late Eric Morecambe who was a Luton
director.

Oddly,
throughout his career, Matt never once took a penalty. "I couldn't kick
the ball far enough,"he jokes.

Matt
also describes the great relationship he enjoyed with fans and expresses regret
that he never had the chance to play in a farewell match at any of
his clubs - particularly Grimsby’s BlundellPark ground which was his happiest
hunting ground.

In
addition, Mattreflects on the
professional game as it is today, offers tips on the art of scoring
and describes the importance to him of his happy home life in
Cleethorpes - he and wife May have two sons and four grandchildren.

All titles are available as e-books on Kindle or via Amazon or at £2 each (post free) from:James Wright33 Parker StreetCleethorpesNorth East Lincolnshire DN35 8THUK